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“I have you and the boys here,” I said, looking down at my wedding ring. “I don’t need anything else.”
He held me close, his big, lean hand pressing my head to his chest. I heard his heart thumping slow beneath his ribs. It was the most comforting sound, one I’d grown used to and longed for when I needed reassurance.
The afternoon was the strangest thing I’d ever experienced. Iris and Enza were nervous, moving about the house speaking in quiet tones. The boys played in the living room with the TV blasting one of their cartoons. Marco was trying to keep them out of our way and I was grateful for his help, although I hated that he was in this position.
It was near six that night when I gathered the boys together to dress them for the plane ride.
“When are we coming back?” Hugo asked.
“I’m not sure, darling,” I said, swallowing the ache in my throat. “It’ll be like a very long vacation. You’ll like it, the new house is on the beach.”
“Are the bad guys going to kill dad?”
I whirled, my fingers gripping the canvas handle of their suitcase. “No, baby,” I whispered. “Dad’s coming with us. He’s safe, he’s just getting the plane ready so we can leave tonight.”
Hugo’s eyes narrowed and I could tell he didn’t really believe me. In the corner, Marco sat with the twins. He sent me a steady, Lucien-like stare from beneath his mop of dark curls.
He understood more than I hoped he would.
I dressed the boys in soft, comfortable clothes. I wasn’t sure how long the plane ride would be, but I suspected it might take all night. We moved out to the living room with suitcases to say goodbye to Enza and Iris and their children.
All hell broke loose.
The children started crying. The twins screamed bloody murder, Hugo hiccuped loudly and clung onto his cousins as they were led out the door to the SUV waiting in the driveway. Marco wiped his face hard, determined not to let anyone see him cry.
Then we were alone. I hugged the boys close to my body and waited, watching as the lights of Lucien’s private plane appeared in the distance. Relief spread through me in a rush and my heart slowed.
As the plane grew closer, the boys jumped to their feet and plastered their faces against the glass. I stayed by the door, keeping it locked, until it alighted on the grass and the side door slid open.
“It’s dad,” Marco said, jumping up and darting around me to throw the door open and run out onto the porch. His brothers followed him and I watched from the other side of the glass.
Lucien appeared out of the dark. Striding with his head down.
I froze.
His hair was gone, his beautiful dark hair. Shaved down to a shadow on his scalp. He wore pants that reminded me of army fatigues, boots underneath, and a plain white t-shirt. The boys clamored for him. Surrounding him and tugging at his clothes. I stood slowly with a terrible pain in my chest.
He was shedding himself before my eyes. Becoming a man who could outlast exile.
He waded through the boys and entered the living room, his boots heavy on the carpet. I broke from my shock and went to him, letting him kiss my mouth. His lips tasted quiet, like resignation. When he drew back, I reached up and ran my fingertips over his shorn head.
“Your hair,” I whispered.
“I need to look less like Lucien Esposito,” he said, his voice low. “Don’t worry, it’s hair. It’ll grow back.”
I laughed shakily and he held out his hand. I wound my fingers through his and he led the way out onto the deck and across the lawn. I ushered the children up the stairs ahead of me and watched him from the doorway as he went to get the suitcases and lock the safehouse.
“Mom, are you coming?”
Hugo leaned out the door with an expectant expression. I nodded and slipped inside, grateful for the small, safe interior of the plane. Lucien appeared a moment later and stowed the bags away. He went up to speak with the pilot and the doors shut and we began moving.
My chest ached, but the feeling of intense fear I’d carried since Riccardo had kidnapped me dissipated. It was dark outside except for the lights on the wings of the plane. The boys had their faces smashed on the glass, staring as the lights of the city twinkled into nothingness below.
Lucien appeared on the far end and I hurried to him. He bent and kissed the top of my head. There was a grim set to his jaw and nothing behind his eyes. In the midst of chaos, that ice brought me comfort.
“We’re safe,” I said quietly.
He nodded. “Yes. We’re safe.”
